Yarn-covering apparatus

ABSTRACT

A spindle unit for wrapping a covering yarn about a core yarn being drawn therethrough includes a spindle shaft supported by bearings within a hollow casing. The shaft includes a portion of substantially uniform cross section extending from the casing having a spindle whorl secured thereto. Pin members directed axially of the shaft and O-rings provided within grooves on the portion of the shaft having a uniform cross section drivingly engage yarn covering packages mounted thereon.

[ 5] Feb. 8, 1972 Unite States @atet Branson [54] YARN-COVERINGAPPARATUS 3,302,384 2/1967 Smitheta1......................... 3,403,50210/1968 Caminada...............................

[22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins Attorney-David Rabin ABSTRACT Aspindle unit for wrapping a covering yarn about a core yarn being drawntherethrough includes a spindle shaft supported by bearings within ahollow casing. The shaft includes a portion of substantially uniformcross section extending from the .1 7 5 .1 00 32 1 791 22 M114 54 5 w 63um 0% 8 U0 /7 3 7 21 un 1. 2o M 53 D3011, 2,131 13 ,9 Jw D. mu "m b7 WWM M- 5 1 m d Ld mm .1] oo 55 [i [56] References Cited casing having aspindle whorl secured thereto. Pin members directed axially of the shaftand O-rings provided within UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,341,479 5/1920Proulx 2,179,334 11/1939 grooves on the portion of the shaft having auniform cross section drivin en a e am coverin ack es mounted....242/129.7 thereon g] y g g y g p ag ....57/ 18 .242/ 129.7 8 Claims,3 Drawing Figures Keyes..... 2,365,980 12/1944 PATENTED FEB 8 I972 FIG]INVENTOR TONY R. BRANSON 1 YARN-COVERHNG APPARATUS BRIEF SUMMARY ANDOBJECTS OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved mechanismfor uniting a plurality of yarns, and more particularly to spindleassemblies for wrapping one or more inelastic yams about a core yarnwhich is highly elastic.

The spindle assembly of the present invention has been designed for usein manufacturing composite yarns by combining a reversibly extensiblestrand, being drawn through the spindle assembly, with an irreversiblyextensible strand mounted for rotation on the spindle assembly. Thespindle blade is supported within vertically spaced antifrictionbearings embraced by vibration damping collars and seated within thehollow casing. A core yarn is drawn through an axial bore extendingthrough the shaft and combined with yarn being delivered from a packagedriven by the spindle blade. The package is received on the spindleblade and seated upon the whorl assembly. The whorl assembly is providedwith pins for coupling the spindle with a covering yarn package. Uponhigh speed rotation of the spindle, O-rings, vertically spaced above thewhorl assembly on the spindle blade, tend to expand in such a manner asto grip and support internal portions of the covering yarn package toreduce vibrations of the spindle assembly.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of aspindle assembly having novel arrangement of elements for producing acomposite yarn by combining a core yarn with a cover yarn.

Another object of the invention is an improved high-speed spindleassembly which is simple in construction and highly reliable inoperation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spindle assemblyhaving apparatus for damping vibrations of the spindle blade and coveryarn package.

Still another object of the invention is a spindle assembly providedwith an improved drive connection between the spindle shaft and apackage mounted thereon.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilledin the an during the course of the following description of oneembodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is'a side elevational view of aportion of a machine for producing composite yarn showing therelationships of the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring tothe drawing in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional up twistermachine for winding covering yarns 12, 14 about a core yarn 16. The coreyam 16 is supplied from a package 18 which may be a stationary cone,wherein the yarn is drawn off from the end of the package, or from afreely rotatable or positively driven spool or bobbin package. The coreyarn 16 which may or may not be in a twisted state of the package 18extends through spindle assemblies 20 and 22, around rolls 24, 26 and iswound upon a takeup spool or bobbin 28 resting upon drive rolls 30, 32.Guide 34, carried by a traversing guide bar 36, moves back and forth ina conventional manner to lead the covered core yarn evenly from end toend of the takeup spool 28.

The spindle assemblies 20 and 22, substantially identical in form, havespools 37, 39 positioned thereon for supplying covering yarns 12, 14that are to be wrapped on the core yarn 16. Each of the spindleassemblies includes a casing or housing 36 consisting of semicircularcastings 38, 40 releasably secured together about bearing assemblies 42,44 by screws 46 and a collar member 48. The screws 46 extend throughlockwashers 54 and openings 52 drilled in the lower portions of casting38 and are threadably received within apertures 54 provided in thecasting 40. The external upper portions 56, 58 of the castings arethreaded for receiving the threaded collar 48, as shown by FIG. 2. Thecollar 48 is locked in position on the housing 36 by a set screw 60which may be tightened to bear against the upper portions 56, 58 ofhousing 36.

Each of the castings 38, 40 is provided with cavities 62, 64 forreceiving bearing assemblies 42,-'44 respectively, and with cavities 66,68 for receiving the tubular spindle shaft 70 which has an axial bore 72therethrough. The bearing assemblies 42, 44 are of a prelubricated typehaving the inner race rings 74 secured to the spindle shaft 70 as bypress fitting or equivalent operations. The outer race members 76receive an elastic vibration damping collar 78 which is of uniform crosssection having a web portion 80 and flanged portions 82 for snuglygripping the outer race 76 radially and axially. When properlypositioned on the race 76 the outer cylindrical surface of the vibrationdamping collar 78 fits snugly within the interior surfaces of thecavities 62, 64 provided in the castings 38, 40 of the housing 36.

A whorl assembly 84, positioned above the collar 48, is secured to theshaft 70 for rotating the spindle shaft and the yarn covering spool 37or 39. The whorl assembly 84 includes vertically spaced flanges 86, 88interconnected by an arched or crowned running surface 90 for receivinga driving belt 92. Diametrically opposed, axially extending drive pins94 are secured to the upper flange 88 for driving engagement with a yarncovering package.

The enlarged upper and intermediate portions of the spindle 70 areprovided with circumferentially extending radial grooves 96 havingO-rings 98 therein. The radial grooves 96 and O-rings 98 are sized suchthat the outennost portion of the O-rings are flush with the outercircumference of the spindle 70 adjacent thereto. Upon high-speedrotation of the spindle 70 and the spool drivingly coupled thereto, theO-rings expand radially within the grooves 96 frictionally gripping theinner surfaces of the spool to reduce vibration of the spool and toprovide a frictional driving engagement between the shaft and the spool.

Each of the yarn covering supply spools 37, 39 includes a tubular coreor barrel member 100 having flanges 102, 104 at each end thereof. Aplurality of openings 106, preferably four in number, are drilled intothe barrel member at each end of the flanges 102, 104 for receiving thedrive pins 94 secured to the whorl assembly flange 88. Bushings 108,within the barrel member 100, extend axially from each of the spoolflanges 102, 104 sufficiently so as to be frictionally engaged by the 0-rings 98 upon high-speed rotation of the spindle and spool.

The spindle assemblies 20 and 22 are supported upon vertically spacedrails mounted upon the frame of the machine 10. Each rail 110 isprovided with an opening, not clearly shown, for receiving the housing36. Each housing 36 is rigidly secured to the rail by means of nuts 112,spaced on opposite sides of the rail and threadably received on thethreaded central portion 114 of housing 36. Shock absorbers 116, whichmay be of rubber or other suitable material, are fitted between theframe 110 and the nuts 112 to insure smooth and vibration-free rotationof the spindle.

A guide member 118 is vertically positioned above each spindle assemblyto restrict the balloon of the covering yarns created by the rotation ofthe spindles.

The core yarn 16 which may be of twisted or untwisted rubber, spandex orother yarns capable of elongation to several times its relaxed length,is stretched as it runs through the hollow spindle 70 by various meanswell known in the art. For example, the relative speeds of the supplypackage 18 and takeup package 28 may be controlled to stretch the yarn16, or tension discs or feed rollers may be provided to tension the coreyarn to a desired degree. Inelastic cover yarns 12 and 14 are wrappedabout the core yarn 16 in its stretched condition and wound upon apackage 28.

While the spindle assemblies, yarn supply means and takeup mechanismsfor producing one composite yarn have been described, it is to beunderstood that the machine normally comprises banks of such assemblieson both sides of the machine.

lclaim:

1. In a machine for helically wrapping covering yarn about a core yarn,a textile spindle unit comprising: a stationary hollow casing formounting on a machine frame member, bearing means positioned within saidhollow casing, a spindle shaft rotatably supported by said bearing meanswithin said hollow casing, said spindle shaft including a first portionof substantially uniform cross section extending from said hollowcasing, said spindle shaft defining a bore extending axially thereinadapted to have a core yarn drawn therethrough, means secured to firstspindle portion for rotating said spindle shaft, and means on said firstportion for supporting and drivingly engaging a yarn-covering package.

2. A spindle unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said means forsupporting and drivingly engaging a yarn covering package includes asupport plate extending radially of said first portion and drive pinsextending axially of said first portion.

3. A spindle unit as defined in claim 2, wherein means for supportingand drivingly engaging a yarn covering package further includesexpansible means on said first portion axially spaced from said drivepins.

4. A spindle unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said expansible meansincludes an O-ring positioned within a radially opening groove providedon said first portion.

5. A spindle unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said spindle meanscomprise antifriction bearing means secured to said spindle shaft.

6. A spindle unit as defined in claim 5, further including vibrationdamping means attached to said bearing means and positioned intermediatesaid bearing means and said stationary casing.

7. A spindle unit as defined in claim 1, said means for supporting anddrivingly engaging a yarn covering package including means spacedaxially of said first portions displaceable into frictional engagementwith a yarn package.

8. A spindle unit as defined in claim 7, said displaceable meanscomprising O-rings disposed in radial grooves provided in said spindleshaft first portion.

1. In a machine for helically wrapping covering yarn about a core yarn,a textile spindle unit comprising: a stationary hollow casing formounting on a machine frame member, bearing means positioned within saidhollow casing, a spindle shaft rotatably supported by said bearing meanswithin said hollow casing, said spindle shaft including a first portionof substantially uniform cross section extending from said hollowcasing, said spindle shaft defining a bore extending axially thereinadapted to have a core yarn drawn therethrough, means secured to saidfirst spindle portion for rotating said spindle shaft, and means on saidfirst portion for supporting and drivingly engaging a yarn-coveringpackage.
 2. A spindle unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said means forsupporting and drivingly engaging a yarn covering package includes asupport plate extending radially of said first portion and drive pinsextending axially of said first portion.
 3. A spindle unit as defined inclaim 2, wherein means for supporting and drivingly engaging a yarncovering package further includes expansible means on said first portionaxially spaced from said drive pins.
 4. A spindle unit as defined inclaim 3, wherein said expansible means includes an O-ring positionedwithin a radially opening groove provided on said first portion.
 5. Aspindle unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said spindle means compriseantifriction bearing means secured to said spindle shaft.
 6. A spindleunit as defined in claim 5, further including vibration damping meansattached to said bearing means and positioned intermediate said bearingmeans and said stationary casing.
 7. A spindle unit as defined in claim1, said means for supporting and drivingly engaging a yarn coveringpackage including means spaced axially of said first portionsdisplaceable into frictional engagement with a yarn package.
 8. Aspindle unit as defined in claim 7, said displaceable means comprisingO-rings disposed in radial grooves provided in said spindle shaft firstportion.